The above statement made by Henry Jenkins sets the table for this module. You will get the chance to read the rest below but it makes as strong statement about the future of media and the media ecosystem. In the last cycle we introduced digitization. In truth digitization represents only one third of the process of media convergence that we are exploring this cycle. To further situation the argument I present to you below an article taken from the Encyclopedia Britannica [concepts in brackets are mine]:
Media convergence is a phenomenon involving the interconnection of information and communications technologies, computer networks, and media content. It brings together the “three C’s”—computing (i.e. digitization), communication, and content—and is a direct consequence of the digitization of media content and the popularization of the Internet. Media convergence transforms established practices to enable entirely new forms of content to emerge. [so convergence actually creates a new paradigm]
It erodes long-established media and content “silos” and increasingly uncouples content from particular devices, which presents major challenges for public policy and regulation [we discussed copyrights for example]. The five major elements of media convergence involve technology, industry, social norms and practices, the textual practices , and political environments.
Here is a link to the complete article. Note that some of this we have already discussed (i.e. trans-media storytelling). Now that you have already explored the concept of media ecology and hopefully now seeing it in a new light, your job is to begin to decide how this all effects teaching and learning and instructional design. I am hoping what seemed as very obtuse concepts in the beginning of the term now have become more obvious and more finite.
There is a lot more written about these theories but for now let’s take a short cut in the name of time and ‘cut to the chase’ by way of two examples.
Unless you are a reading coach or an ELA teacher the commercial below may have never occurred to you prior to taking this course. For some of you, the concept of ‘multimedia’ may not have been fully understood before now. The Jenkins article takes aim at the artificiality of collective intelligence fomented by social media companies and speaks to media biases. No longer is collective conscientiousness always a viral concept but one that can be manipulated. Tune into current news about media companies like Google and Facebook and you can get the sense of this premise. Ending on a positive note, perhaps translating this to teaching and learning, perhaps social media (or media in general) can be a tool to effect change in your students in a good way.
- Watch the Amazon video that implies in its message that reading and audio books are the same thing. Based on your current knowledge and follow up research, post a response to this premise either supporting or disavowing its premise. Is listening to a book the same thing as reading a book? Do you agree or disagree? Not looking for opinion here (although you MAY suggest one but anything you say about this MUST be backed up by some type of research or strong statements by experts in the field of reading and/or media ecology).
- The second part is a white paper written by Henry Jenkins that makes some assumptions about media convergence as it relates to knowledge acquisition and society in general.
After watching the video and reading the paper post your response to each premise in a single drop box on Canvas. The expectation is approximately two to three paragraphs up to one page for each section.
